by Helen Shelton
Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.
– Mother Teresa
Almost 10,000 organizations in Vancouver need our love right now. As governments continue to cut back on funding, non-profit organizations of all stripes must rely more and more on people’s willingness to share their time and skills with others who are less fortunate.
I discovered this startling fact during my quest to find an organization to which I could donate some of my own time. I knew that I wanted to help others, but I didn’t know who, or how, to help. Overwhelmed by the available opportunities, and anxious to make the right decision, I sought help from Shirley Weir, director of communications for Volunteer Vancouver
(www.volunteervancouver.ca).
“First, take a look inside you,” Weir urged. “What are you passionate about?” She recommended making a list of all the things that really make you tick. Are you a people person or fanatical about organizing? Do you love the outdoors or prefer to be inside? After all, if you enjoy the work, you’ll be more productive.
“Then, look at your skill-set, your experience and what you have to offer,” Weir encouraged. As an example, she recalled the assistance given to the tsunami victims in Asia. The Canadian Red Cross appealed for experienced fund managers to deal with the large sums of money being donated. They also recruited public relations experts to help manage all the television crews camped out in their parking lot.
“Be really clear about what it is that you’re expecting in return,” Weir continued. “It may be that you’d like the work to help secure employment.” Amanda Hathorn is training to become an ESL teacher and helps out at her local language school. “This not only gives me experience and helps with my training course, but it may lead to a job after I’ve qualified,” Hathorn said.
If sharing your skills and experience motivates you, the upcoming World Peace Forum
(www.worldpeaceforum.ca) could be right up your street. In late June, Vancouver plays host to a week of music festivals, exhibitions, conferences and a peace walk. “The theme is for cities and communities to work together to end war and build a peaceful, just and sustainable world,” explained Linda Shuto, volunteer coordinator for the forum. “This is a citizen’s initiative, and so we are relying on the kindness of volunteers to help make this happen. We need people with all kinds of experience, from [fulfilling] leadership roles to technical support, communications to administration, and first-aiders to marshals. Anyone is welcome to apply, even if you don’t have experience.”
Alternatively, some organizations require rather unique donations, such as the BC Women’s Milk Bank
(www.bcwomens.ca/Services/PregnancyBirthNewborns/HospitalCare/Breastfeeding). Through donations to the milk bank last year, breastfeeding mothers provided pasteurized breast milk to more than 250 high-risk and ill children. Donors, who go through a careful screening process to ensure that they and their babies are healthy, immediately freeze any excess milk. At the hospital, the milk is pasteurized and fed to babies whose mothers are not able to provide any, or enough, breast milk.
Another aspect of volunteering is the acquisition of new skills that one doesn’t have the opportunity to learn in a typical day job. As an example, Weir noted that an accountant might be interested in marketing. Finally, it could simply be a way to meet new people, and as a newcomer to Vancouver, this really appeals to me.
You could become so motivated by the cause you are working for that you may want to set up an organization yourself. Take Harreson Sito, who, disillusioned with his career in information technology, quit to find something more fulfilling. “I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew it had something to do with helping people,” Sito explained.
After soul searching his way through environmental campaigning and holistic therapies, Sito was inspired by his yoga teacher, a single mother of two. “Children are precious,” Sito said. “Mothers are the roots of society and they sacrifice so much for their children. I always wondered who looks after them.”
Sito soon founded the Single Mothers Support Network
(www.singlemotherssupportnetwork.org) to provide free holistic treatments, such as massage, acupuncture and reiki “to help moms and dads to recharge their batteries.” Sito, who runs the network from his cosy apartment above his family’s café, the Kitsilano-based Flying Swan, exudes an aura of calm and peacefulness – the aura of someone who has found his true vocation in life: “I guess this is what I’m here to do,” he acknowledged. Inspired by Sito’s dedication, I’ve signed up to offer his members free reiki treatments.
Whatever it is that motivates us to help others, the facts are clear. According to Statistics Canada, 20 percent of Canadians contribute over one billion hours annually, the equivalent of 500,000 full-time jobs.
The field of culture and recreation is the leading beneficiary of volunteer time, followed by social services, religion, education and research. Literally running for a cause is also a popular way to contribute to a charity. The annual Run for the Cure attracts over 27,000 British Columbians to donate their time to raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
So why are Canadians so generous with their time? “The people I meet have a genuine and sincere wish to contribute to their community,” Weir noted. “They all have a desire to make the world a better place to live, or a better place for future generations…”
According to Janice Poehnell, a facilitator for a grief support network at her local hospital, “It’s great to be able to really make a difference. I sometimes think that my life sucks, until I hear some of the awful things that have happened to others.” Working for the organization has also encouraged Poehnell to re-evaluate and improve her relationship with her family. She no longer takes anything for granted. “I don’t sweat the small stuff anymore,” Poehnell asserted.
Of the 1.5 million volunteers in BC aged 12 to 100, one of the largest age groups is the under-25s. “They’re energetic, talented and an excellent resource,” Weir said. “And they have the time, but they want to donate their time quite differently to the way people have done so in the past. They’re more interested in developing your website strategy than stuffing envelopes.”
Newly retired baby boomers also volunteer in great numbers, offering a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise. “They have a long list of things that they want to do in their retirement, such as golf and vacationing, but it might also involve contributing to a community,” Weir said. “They might help with strategic business planning and then leave to go onto the next part of their retirement plan.”
Volunteer Vancouver is cam-paigning to change the definition of volunteering. The organization believes that many of us give our time freely without even realizing it. “Everyone has their own definition of volunteering, and to me, it’s giving your time and talent without asking for any payment in return,” Weir explained. “It can be three days a week or 20 minutes a year. Everyone can make a difference by planting flowers at the end of the street, coaching your son’s soccer team, or taking your neighbour shopping.”
For volunteer opportunities in BC, visit www.govolunteer.ca or www.volunteervancouver.ca/new/vol_vancouver.asp
Originally from the UK, Helen Shelton has lived, worked and written her way around the world. Email helencshelton@fastmail.fm